When he embarked on his pro career, no one would have imagined he’d annihilate the competition and skyrocket to the top of an already crowded hierarchy. When it came to the next gen, all eyes were on Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune.
But Sinner squashed all skepticism by brilliantly orchestrating his success.
Born in Innichen, in the predominantly German-speaking region of South Tyrol, just a stone’s throw from the Austrian border, he didn’t seem destined for a life in tennis. Still, the champion junior skier who took home a national title in giant slalom eventually opted for the racquet sport and all the sacrifices it requires.
At the age of 13, he left home to train at Riccardo Piatti’s tennis centre in Bordighera, on the Italian Riviera. There, he gained his independence, learned to cook and fought off the loneliness by going hard in the gym and on the courts. There was no limit to his ambition, and his efforts soon started paying off.
In November 2019, after only a year on Tour, he broke through at the prestigious ATP Next Gen Finals in Milan, where he utterly dominated Alex de Minaur of Australia in the final to raise the championship trophy.
Unfailing effort
His exploit left many experts in awe, but Sinner still had a lot of work to do. His serve wasn’t the weapon it could be, his volleys were stilted and derivative, and his form didn’t allow him to unleash enough striking power.
Read: Sinner Arrives in Montreal to Begin NBO Prep
So he got to work. Long and ultra-focused training sessions elevated his serve and especially his second serve, made him a threat at the net and gave him the muscle mass he needed to blast unattainable forehands and get one step closer to the Baywatch body of his dreams.
As luck would have it, this newly acquired arsenal emphasized many of his inherent qualities: his unflappable calm, his ability to regroup after an error and his extraordinary determination. Very few tennis players can tap into such a refined tennis IQ and the perseverance to keep fighting until the very last point.
And there’s no stronger evidence of that than the final of the 2024 Australian Open. Despite being down two sets, he dug deep and dismantled Daniil Medvedev.
Climb to the top
For Jannik, progress has been quick and incremental, from No.10 to No.9, No.8, No.7, No.6., No.4. No.3., No.2 and No.1, skipping only the fifth rung on the ATP ladder.
The Masters 1000 title he secured last summer at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto was the first in a series of remarkable wins.
Leave a Reply